In vitro- Testsystem für virale Infektionen

Multilayered biological in vitro tissue comprising a dermis layer containing a collagen biomatrix with fibroblasts embedded in it, and an epidermis layer containing epithelial cells, is claimed, where latently virally infected neuronal cells are integrated into the dermis layer. Independent claims are included for: (1) a method for producing the multilayered biological tissue as an in vitro test system, comprising providing a multilayered tissue containing a dermis layer, a collagen biomatrix with fibroblasts embedded in it, and an epidermis layer containing epithelial cells, and seeding virally infected neuronal cells on the multilayered biological tissue so that they are integrated into the biological tissue; and (2) a method for finding an active ingredient with an antiviral action from a group of substances to be examined, comprising providing the multilayered biological in vitro tissue, reacting the virus infection in the latently virally infected neuronal cells of the tissue, bringing the tissue before or after the virus activation into contact with the substance to be examined, and verifying the extent of the virus activation, where the reduction of the extent of the virus activation compared to tissue not brought into contact with the substance indicates an antiviral action of the substance.